Polarized electrical plug and socket connector having a plurality of contacts



m m m 6 MM 5% m o M 0 2 v S N E H0 9 m 4 M #8 u 3 g f 9 m I 1 1 4 8/ L N re g A 7 W 3 2 a. w my z 5 v V0 w mx u w\ k H. 7 m5 L 1 S. L. ARSON POLARIZED ELECTRICAL PLUG AND SOCKET CONNECTOR Filed March 5, 1953 HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS April 23, 1957 Unitd States Patent POLARIZED ELECTRICAL PLUG AND SOCKET CONNECTOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS Samuel L. Arson, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Cannon Electric Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 5, 1953, Serial No. 340,541

6 Claims. (Cl. 339-184) This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to connectors employing a plurality of engaging contacts, so that the connector may join a multiplicity of independent electrical circuits.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simplified connector in which the individual contacts thereof can not be rnismated.

It is another object of this invention to provide means to insure proper registry of opposed contacts in a. multicircuit connector.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved and simplified means for polarizing engaging connector members so that they can not be mismated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a connector member of simplified yet sturdy design, which is quickly assembled with a minimum of bonding points and which is rugged in character.

It is another object of this invention to provide a connector in which the individual extended contacts are sheltered or protected.

It is a still further object of this invention to effect polarizing of a connector by the inherent shape of the connector members and without derogating from the contact-containing capacity of the connector.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the instant invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the connector showing the male and female members joined. N

Fig. '2 is a perspective view showing the members of the connector separated.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of-the individual mating contacts. 1

Referring to the drawings, Fig.1 shows an electrical connector comprising a male member 11 joined to ;a

female member 12. Each connector member embodies a plurality of individual contacts. In the embodiment shown,-the male member 11 carries aplurality of substantially identical elongate socket contacts or sockets arear portion 17 having an open rear face. The portions 16 and 17 have contiguous transverse flanges 18 and 19, respectively, whichare-secured together means of eyelets 21- to'unify the-male'membenfl. The male member also includes, within ;the near shell 16-17,

non conductin'g body meansinwhich are mounted the {socket contacts '13. "The bo'dy means "consists: ofaforivard body port-ion 22'and a--rear body--portioir 23 con- "ice tiguously disposed behind the body portion 22. The forward or front face 24 of the forward body portion 22 is substantially flush with the forward edge of the forward shell portion 16, which is substantially in the form or outline of a keystone or symmetrical trapezoid, as best seen in Fig. 2. Around the rear edge of the body portion 22 extends an integral flange 2 6 the forward face of which engages the flange 18 to limit forward disposition of the body portion 22 within the male shell.

The body portion 22 is provided with a plurality of bores 27 through which pass the elongate socket contacts 13. The bores 27 are countersunk from. the rear face of the body 22, the several countersinks 28 being circular, as shown in Fig. 5, except for opposed inwardly extending body segments 29 which form flats 31 on the countersinks. Each socket contact 13 is provided with a shoulder 32, which mates within the countersink 28 and has flats 33 corresponding to the countersink fiats 31. In this manner the sockets 13 are restrained against rotation in their bores 27.

The forward face 34 of the shoulder 32 engages the floor of the countersink 28 to limit forward disposition of the socket 1 3 in the male member. To limit rearward disposition of the socket 13 and thereby restrain the socket within the male member, there is provided the above mentioned rear body portion 23'," which hasa plurality of bores just large enough to accommodate passage of the rearward portion of the sockets 13. Thus, engagement of the rear face of the shoulder 32 with the body portion 23 immediately circumjacent its bores serves to hold the sockets 13 within the male member 11, without relying in any way on undependable trio-- tional engagement of the contacts in the body.

The rear body portion 23 is in turn held in place by an inwardly extending rear flange 36 on the rear shell 17, which engages the edge of the body portion 23' torestrain it against rearward motion.

The female member 12 is constructed generally similar to the male member 11. In the member 12', however, the elongate contacts 1 1 are in the form of pins; and instead of terminating flush with the forward or front face 37 of the' forward body portion 38, the pins 14 extend beyond the front face 37 so as to be engageable in the bores 39 of the recessed socket contacts The forward shell portion of the female member 12 comprises a wall 41 which surrounds the forwardly eittended ends of the pins 14, and is also in the form or outline of a keystone or symmetrical trapezoid, so that it may mate snugly around the keystone-shaped forward shell 16 of the male member 11.

The'wall 41 thus serves the double function ofpolar- .izing the connector, and also protecting the extended pins 14. The keystone shape of the mating shells effects polarization of the connector, without derogating from the contact capacity of the connector, so that a maxi-- mum number of mating pins and sockets-maybe included in the connector. Where special polarizing keyways are employed, not only are stamping problems multiplied, but there is often a reductionin thecapacity of the connector to accommodate contacts. This-is of great importance in the field of miniature and: sub-miniature connectors, where it is necessary to :link a maximum number ,of, circuits in ,a ,minimum space.

the flats of the bore coun ersink.

Likeits counterpart rear body-portion 23, the rear body portion 44 of the female member 12 has a plurality of bores through which pass the rear portions of the pins 14. The female member 12 is completed by the open faced rear shell 46 having a rear flange 47 engaging the edge of the body portion 44 to complete assembly of the female member 12. The shells 4i and do are secured together by eyelets 48 passing through the contiguous flanges of the respective shells.

While the instant invention has been shown and de scribed herein in what is conceived to be the most pracdeal and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that partures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Electrical connector comprising in combination a male member and a mating female member; said male member comprising a metal shell formed of a forward portion open at its forwardface, and a rear portion open at its rear face, said portions having contiguous transverse flanges secured together to unify said male member, a forward non-conducting body portion disposed in said shell and having a front face substantially flush with the open face of said forward shell portion, said forward body portion having a plurality of bores therethrough communicating with said front face of said forward body portion, a flange on said forward body portion engaging said forward shell portion to limit the forward disposition of said forward body portion in said shell, said bores each having a countersink at the rearward end of said bores, said countersink being circular except for opposed inwardly extending body segments forming opposed flats on said countersink, elongate sockets disposed through said bores each socket having a shoulder mating with said countersink, said shoulder having fiats mating with said countersink flats, whereby each said socket is restrained frorn rotation in its bore, a substantially flat, nonconducting rear body portion disposed against the rearward face of said forward body portion and having bores through which pass the rearward portions of said sockets, said shell rear portion engaging the edge of said rear body portion to hold said body portions in said shell, said sockets being held in place by engagement of one face of said shoulder with the floor of the countersink and by engagement of the other side of said shoulder with said rear body portion, said shell forward portion being of keystone shape; said female member comprising a metal shell formed of a forward portion and a rear portion, said shell portions having contiguous transverse flanges secured together to unify said female member, a non-conducting forward body portion disposed in said metal hell and limited in its forward disposition in said shell by engagement with said shell forward portion, said forward body portion having bores therethrough, pin contacts disposed through said bores and extending forwardly from the forward face of said forward body portion, the a forward portions of said pin contacts being adapted to mate within said sockets, said shell forward portion including a forwardly extending wall circumjacent the extended forward portions of said pin contacts, said wall being in the form of a keystone and mateable around the forward portion of said male member shell, the bores of said forward body portion being countersunk from the rear face of said forward body portion, such countersinks being circular except for opposed inwardly extending.

I body segments forming opposed flats on said countersink, each pin. having .a shoulder mating with its respective countersink, said shoulder having opposed flats mating with the countersink flats, and a rear body portion having bores therethrough through which extend rearwardly said pin contacts, said rear body portion engaging the rear facesof said shoulders to restrain said pin contacts in said female member, said shell rear portion engaging said rear body portion around the edge thereof to restrain said female body members insaid female shell."

2. An electrical connector comprising in combination a female member and a mating male member; said female member comprising a metal shell formed of a forward portion and a rear portion, said portions having contiguous transverse flanges secured together to unify said female member, non-conducting body means in said female member shell, pin contact mounted in said body means and extending forwardly within said female member forward portion, and extending rearwardly of said female member rear portion, said female member forward portion being open at its forward face and being of keystone or symmetrical trapezoid shape; said male member comprising a metal shell formed of a forward portion and a rear portion, said portions having contiguous-transverse flanges secured together to unify said male member, non-conducting body means in said male member shell, socket contacts mounted within said body means and communicating with the forward face of said body means and extending rearwardly of said body means, said socket contacts being positioned to mate with said pin contacts, said male member forward portion being in the shape of a keystone or symmetrical trapezoid effective to mate within said female member forwardrportion.

3. Electrical connector comprising a female member and a mating male member; said female member comprising a body portion, a first set of axially directed contacts mounted in said body portion, and a wall circumjacent of said first set of contacts, said wall outlining a keystone or symmetrical trapezoid, said contacts being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows extending between opposite slant sides of said keystone or symmetrical trapezoid, there being a greater number of contacts in a row adjacent the base of said keystone or symmetrical trapezoid than in a row above the baserow; said male member comprising a body portion, a second set of axially directed contacts mounted in the body portion of the male member, the number of contacts in the said second set being equal to that in said first set of contacts, said body portion of the male member being keystone or symmetrical trapezoid in outline and mating within said wall of the female member, one of said sets of contacts being sockets and the other of said setsbeing pins mating within said sockets.

4. Electrical connector comprising a female member and a mating male member connectible together on a given axis; said femalemember comprising a body portion, a first set of axially directed pins mounted in said body portion and extending forwardly from the face thereof, a wall circumjacent said pins and extending forwardly from the face of said body portion, said wall outlining a trapezoid in whichthe opposite sides of one pair of sides thereof are parallel and the opposite sides of the other pair of; sides thereof are not parallel, whereby one of the said parallel sides is longer than the other of the said parallel sides and constitutes the base of the trapezoid, and said non-parallel sides constitute slant sides, said pins being arranged in a plurality of parallel rows extending between opposite slant sides of said trapezoid, there beinga greater number of pins in a row adjacent the base of 'said trapezoid thanin a row adjacent the base row; said male member comprising a body portion, a set of axially directed sockets in said body portion of said male member, said sockets being equal in number to and registering with said pins, said body portion of said male'member being trapezoid in outline and mating snu y Within said wall of said female member.

5. Electrical connector comprising a male member and a female member, the 'male member comprising a shell comprising a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion comprising a first metallic portion open at each end thereof and having a forward edge and ,a

rear edge, an outwardly extending first flange around said rear edge, the flange having a rear face, said rear shell portion comprising a second metallic portion open at each end thereof and having a forward edge and a rear edge, an outwardly extending second flange around the forward edge of said second metallic portion, an inwardly extending third flange around the rear edge of said second metallic portion, the inner edge of the third flange defining the opening in the rear of the second metallic portion, said second flange having a forward face, the third flange having an inwardly facing face, said first metallic portion being smaller in cross-section than said second metallic portion, said shell portions being secured together with the rear face of the first flange in engagement with the forward face of said second flange, whereby a marginal portion of said rear face contiguous the rear edge of said first metallic portion is not covered by said second flange; a body formed of non-conducting material in said shell portions and comprising a forward body portion and a rear body portion, the forward body portion comprising a body portion of a size to fit coaxially in said first metallic shell portion and having a forward face and a rear face, an outwardly extending fourth flange around the rear face of said forward body portion, the fourth flange having a forwardly facing face, said fourth flange being disposed within said second metallic shell portion with its forwardly facing face in engagement with said marginal portion of the rear face of said first flange, said rear body portion having a forward face and a rear face and being disposed in said second metallic shell portion to substantially fill the space between the rear face of said first body portion and the inwardly facing face of said third flange, said body portions having a plurality of holes formed therein and extending therethrough with the holes in one body portion being axially aligned with the holes in the other body portion, respectively, and socket contact members held in aligned sets of said holes, respectively, the female member comprising a shell and a body of non-conducting material fitted in the shell, the shell of the female member comprising a metallic wall matable snugly around said first metallic shell portion, a plurality of pin contact elements held in said female body portion, said wall circumscribing said pin contact elements, the pin contact elements being engageable with said socket contact elements, respectively, when the male and female members are mated.

6. Electrical connector comprising a shell comprising a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion comprising a first metallic portion open at each end thereof and having a forward edge and a rear edge, an

outwardly extending firstflange around said rear edge, the flange having a rear face, said rear shell portion comprising a second metallic portion open at each end thereof and having a forward edge and a rear edge, an outwardly extending second flange around the forward edge of said second metallic portion, an inwardly extending third flange around the rear edge of the said second metallic portion, the inner edge of the third flange defining the opening in the rear of the second metallic portion, said second flange having a forward face, the third flange having an inwardly facing face, said first metallic portion being smaller in cross-section than the said second metallic portion, said shell portions being secured together with the rear face of the first flange in engagement with the forward face of said second flange whereby a marginal portion of said rear face contiguous the rear edge of said first metallic portion is not covered by said second flange; a body formed of non-conducting material in said shell portions and comprising a forward body portion and a rear body portion, the forward body portion including a peripheral portion having a forwardly facing face, said peripheral portion being disposed within said second shell portion, with the forwardly facing face in engagement with said marginal portion of the rear face of the first flange, said rear body portion having a forward face and a rear face and being disposed in said second metallic shell portion to substantially fill the space between the rear face of said first body portion and the inwardly facing face of said third flange, said body portions having a plurality of holes formed therein and extending therethrough with the holes in one body portion being axially aligned with the holes in the other body portion, respectively, and elongate contact members held in aligned sets of said holes, respectively, and extending into said first metallic portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,157,026 Meschenmoser Oct. 19, 1915 1,686,534 Rosenzweig Oct. 9, 1928 2,249,618 Perkins July 15, 1951 2,312,002 Schmitt Feb. 23, 1943 2,425,679 Jackson Aug. 12, 1947 2,510,339 Heiss June 6, 1950 2,659,872 Gilbert Nov. 17, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 296,646 Great Britain Sept. 6, 1928 595,178 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1947 

